Support member

ABSTRACT

A support member comprises abeam (12) having flanges (16, 18) connected to a central web (14). A first set of wings (20, 22) and a second set of wings (30, 32) are connected to the flange (16). A plurality of angled plates (80, 82, 84, 86) are attached to the flanges (16, 18) of the beam (12). to form receptacles defined between the plates, the web (14) and the flanges, (16, 18) of the beam (12). The receptacle has a relatively large upper opening. The plate (80) has a lower edge that is spaced away from the web (14) so that a bottom opening in the form of a slot between the lower edge of the plate (80) and the web (14) is formed. Alternatively, the lower edge of the plate (80) may come into contact with the web (14) (and be welded thereto), and the receptacle thus formed may have a lower opening formed by having a hole opening in the plate (80) at a lower region of the plate (80).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a support member. In some embodimentsof the specification, the support member comprises a support member thatis driven into the ground to provide at least part of the foundationstructure.

BACKGROUND ART

Screw piles are used in the construction of buildings and otherstructures. A typical screw pile comprises a shaft, normally made frommild steel or a higher strength steel. A helical screw or blade isattached to the shaft. In order to insert the screw pile into theground, the screw pile is rotated and pressed downwardly which causesthe helical blade to bite into the ground and to screw into the ground.Once the screw pile has been properly inserted into the ground, theweight borne by the screw pile is distributed from the helical bladeinto the earth that lies underneath the helical blade. Further, theearth positioned above the helical blade assists in resisting anylifting forces applied to the screw pile and thereby assists inmaintaining the screw pile in the ground.

Conventional screw piles comprise a single helical blade. The blade hasa leading edge that moves through and breaks the earth as the screw pileis screwed into the ground. Conventional screw piles have a leading edgeon their blade that extends generally perpendicularly to the outerperiphery of the blade (when viewed from above). As the shaft isnormally cylindrical in shape, the leading edge of the blade may beconsidered to extend outwardly from the shaft in the radial direction.

Australian patent application number 2010202047 and Australianinnovation patent number 2011100820, the entire contents of which areherein incorporated by cross-reference, describe a screw pile comprisinga shaft, at least two blades extending outwardly from the shaft, eachblade having a leading edge that contacts earth as the screw pile isscrewed into the ground, the leading edge including at least a portionextending in a direction that is non-perpendicular to an outer peripheryof the shaft (when viewed from above).

Alternatively, the screw pile described in that patent application andinnovation patent comprises a screw pile comprising a shaft, at leasttwo blades extending outwardly from the shaft, each blade having aleading edge that contacts earth as the screw pile is screwed into theground, the leading edge including a swept back portion adapted todeflect rocks that come into contact with the swept back portion of theleading edge during insertion of the screw pile into the ground. Thescrew pile may comprise two blades in the form of angled plates. Theangled plates may be mounted to the shaft. The angled plates may bemounted to the shaft, for example, by welding. Alternatively, the angledplates may be integrally formed with the shaft. The angled plates may begenerally flat angled plates. The angled plates may have opposite pitchto each other. For example, when viewed from side on, one angled platemay extend downwardly from left to right while the other angled platemay extend downwardly from right to left.

Using angled blades instead of a helical screw makes manufacture of thescrew pile more simple. Further, each angled blade counteracts theforces applied by the other angled blade during insertion of the screwpile, thereby resulting in the screw pile being easier to install.

Large-scale solar energy installations typically comprise a number ofsolar photovoltaic cells or solar collectors (such as solar collectorsthat are used to heat water to produce steam). In some solar energyinstallations, the solar photovoltaic cells or solar collectors trackthe sun during the day in order to maximise the amount of solar energycollected. In order to achieve this, some installations mount a numberof solar photovoltaic cells or solar collectors to large drive beams andthe drive beams are slowly rotated during the day to track the movementof the sun. The drive beams and associated structure must be firmlymounted in the ground a number of locations in order to firmly supportthe drive beam to stop or minimise distortion of the drive beam duringuse. Some large-scale solar energy installations mount the supportingstructure for the drive beams to concrete foundations whilst otherlarge-scale solar energy installations utilise screw piles.

Low strength soil sites pose extreme challenges in finding sufficientlateral load in the upper layers to support solar farm arrays duringhigh winds and/or mechanical moments generated by sun tracker systemdrive motors. Very deep driven beams are commonly required to satisfythe required loads. Further, due to the low geotechnical strength of thesoil, bending moment loads extend down the length of the beam, forcingincreases in beam size, installation time and cost.

Conventional driven beams are typically slender steel columns driveninto the ground. Due to their slender design and therefore limitedsurface area, they need to be driven deep into the ground to createsufficient skin friction area for compression and tension loadrequirements. Driven beams founded at greater depth leads to prolongedinstallation time, which can lead to excessive drive hammer damage tobeam tops and a higher likelihood of encountering unidentified obstaclesat a greater depth, such as floaters, rock layers, hard gravel layersand the like.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication isreferred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission thatthe publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art inAustralia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a support member, which may atleast partially overcome at least one of the abovementioneddisadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercialchoice.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, residesbroadly in a support member comprising a beam adapted to be driven intothe ground, and one or more wings extending generally transverselyoutwardly from the beam.

In one embodiment, the one or more wings may be in the form of platesextending transversely to the beam. The wings may have an outer edgethat extends in a direction that is generally parallel to a longitudinalaxis of the beam. In one embodiment, each wing extends in a plane thatis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the beam.

In one embodiment, the one or more wings may have lower edges thatextend at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the beam, therebyassisting penetration of the leading edge of the one or more wings intothe ground.

A plurality of wings may be provided.

In one embodiment, at least some of the wings are located such that whenthe beam is driven into the ground to a desired depth, the one or morewings are wholly located below ground level.

In one embodiment, the one or more wings comprise a first set of wingslocated at a first region and a second set of wings located at thesecond region, the second region being spaced along the beam from thefirst region. In some embodiments, the wings in the first set of wingsmay be of a different size to at least one of the wings in the secondset of wings.

In one embodiment, the beam may comprise an I-beam or a C-beam or aH-beam. The skilled person will understand that an I-beam and a H-beamcomprises a central web having flanges extending from the central web.Each flange extends to both sides of the central web. A C-beam also hasa central web with flanges extending from the central web. However, theflanges of a C-beam only extend to one side of the central web, therebygiving a C-shaped cross-section to the beam. In other embodiments, thebeam may comprise a rectangular hollow section (RHS) beam.

In one embodiment, at least one of the one or more wings is welded tothe beam. The present inventors believe that by welding the wings to thebeam, increased stiffness is provided to the beam. In an advantageousembodiment, at least one of the one or more wings is welded to the beamin a manner such that a face of the wing is in abutment with a face ofthe beam.

In one embodiment, the beam comprises an I-beam or a H-beam and at leastone of the wings is welded to a flange of the I-beam or H-beam. In oneembodiment, the at least one wing comprises a first wing welded to aflange on one side of a central web of the beam and a second wing weldedto a flange on another side of the central web of the beam.

In one embodiment, the beam comprises an I-beam or a H-beam and at leastone wing is welded to an inside face of a flange of the H-beam orI-beam, wherein a face of the wing is in abutment with an inside face ofthe flange of the beam. This advantageously stiffens the beam.

In one embodiment, the beam comprises an I-beam or a H-beam and the oneor more stabilising wings comprises a pair of stabilising wings, with afirst wing of the pair being welded to an inside face of a flange of thebeam and a second wing of the pair being welded to an inside face of theflange on an opposite side of the central web of the beam.

In one embodiment, the at least one stabilising wing comprises a secondpair of stabilising wings located towards a lower end of the beam, thesecond pair of stabilising wings being spaced from a first pair ofstabilising wings.

In one embodiment, the beam comprises an I-beam or a H-beam and thesecond pair of stabilising wings comprises a first wing of the pairbeing welded to an inside face of a flange of the beam and a second wingof the pair being welded to an inside face of the flange on an oppositeside of the central web of the beam.

In another embodiment, the support member may comprise a furtherstabilising wing attached to and extending transversely from a flange ora face of the beam.

In one embodiment, the beam has a lower end that is shaped to facilitateinsertion or driving of the beam into the ground. In one embodiment, thelower end of the beam comprises a sharpened point or a sharpened apex.In one embodiment, the lower end of the beam has a V-shape. In oneembodiment, the lower end of the beam is delta cut to facilitateimproved installation into the ground.

In one embodiment, the support member is provided with one or morereceptacles to receive soil or earth when the support member is insertedinto the ground. The one or more receptacles may include at least oneupwardly and outwardly extending wall. In some embodiments, the one ormore receptacles have a lower opening in a lower part to allow soil toenter into the receptacle through the opening during insertion of thesupport member into the ground. The lower opening will also allow waterto drain from the one or more receptacles, thereby preventing orminimising the risk that water will be retained in receptacles.

In one embodiment, the one or more receptacles have an upper opening anda lower opening, the opening being larger than the lower opening.

In one embodiment, a receptacle is formed by positioning a plate betweenflanges of the beam, the plate being angled outwardly and upwardlyrelative to a longitudinal axis of the beam. In one embodiment, theplate is welded to each of the flanges. In one embodiment, an inner edgeof the plate is spaced from the web of the beam to thereby form a loweropening between the web and the inner edge of the plate.

In embodiments where one or more plates are joined to the beam, thenumber, size and shape of the plates can vary and are dependent upon therequired load and geotechnical strength.

In some embodiments, the one or more plates do not extend beyond outeredges of the flanges. It is believed that this will reduce thelikelihood of bending or damage to the plates as the support member isinserted into the ground. In other embodiments, the one or more platesmay extend beyond the outer ends of the flanges, particularly if thesupport member is to be used in very friable or easily displaced soil.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a support membercomprising a beam adapted to be driven into the ground, and one or morereceptacles to receive soil or earth when the support member is insertedinto the ground. The beam may comprise a web having flanges extendingfrom the web and the one or more receptacles may be located between thewebs. In one embodiment, a receptacle is formed by joining and upwardlyand outwardly angled plate to the one or more webs.

Other features of the one or more receptacles may be as described withreference to the first embodiment of the present invention.

It is believed that the one or more receptacles will fill with soil orearth when the support member is inserted into the ground. This shouldthen provide greater resistance to upward movement of the beam, whichshould assist in retaining the beam in its desired position within theground.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors believethat when the support member is inserted or driven into the ground, theone or more wings mobilise a greater soil area in the vicinity of thewings, thereby providing a substantial increase in “skin friction”surface area to satisfy both compression and tension load requirementsof a given project. The present inventors also believe that the supportmembers of the present invention can be shorter than a conventionaldriven beam, thereby reducing cost and making installation easier.

The support members of the present invention are particularly useful forforming part or all of the foundation structure in sandy soils or weaksoils. The support members of the present invention are particularlyuseful for forming foundation piles for solar arrays. The wings greatlyreduce the potential for geotechnical failure (soil shear) under loadwhile storing elastic geo-energy to ensure that the members rebound tovertical after extreme loads are applied. These elements directlybenefit the solar arrays attached to the top of the members, because themembers/soil partly act as lateral shock absorbers to smooth out windloads and reduce shock forces from sharp spikes in high wind conditions.Further, as the wings can assist in strengthening the beam, it ispossible to use a lighter gauge beam, thereby reducing cost. Further, ashorter beam can be used, when compared with conventional beams, againreducing cost and easing installation. Further, as shorter beams can beused, the likelihood of damage to the top of the beam from the hammer orpile driver is minimised.

Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combinationwith any one or more of the other features described herein within thescope of the invention.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and shouldnot be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that theprior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference tothe following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from one side of a support member inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from another side of the support membershown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the support member shown in FIG. 1. The viewof FIG. 3 is taken from an aspect such that a flange of the beam can beseen;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the support member shown in FIG. 1. The viewof FIG. 4 is taken from an aspect such that the full extent of a web ofthe beam can be seen;

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the support member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom plan view of the support member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a side elevation (from the same aspect as shown in FIG. 3)of the support member shown in FIG. 1, with FIG. 7 diagrammaticallyshowing the support member inserted into the ground;

FIG. 8 shows a similar view to FIG. 7, but taken from the aspect asshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a 5.5 m conventional beamthat has been driven 4 m into the ground;

FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a 6.5 m beam that hasbeen driven 5 m into the ground;

FIG. 11 shows diagrammatic views of interaction with the ground andlateral loads for a support member in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention and for a conventional steel driven beam;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a support member in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the support member shown in FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the drawings have been provided for thepurposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention.Therefore, it will be understood that the present invention should notbe considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in theattached drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show various views of a support member in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. The support member 10 shown inFIGS. 1 to 6 comprises an I-beam 12. The I-beam 12 has a central web 14,a first flange 16 and a second flange 18, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and6. The I-beam is suitably made from steel and it may be galvanised forcorrosion protection.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the support member 10 also includes two setsof wings. The first set of wings is positioned at an intermediateportion of the beam 12 and the second set of wings is positioned at alower end of the beam 12.

Throughout this specification the terms “upper” and “lower” are used toindicate the orientation of the support member when it is in itsinstalled position in the ground.

The first set of wings comprises wings 20 and 22. Wings 20, 22 arebasically identical to each other. Wing 20 has a leading edge 24, a sidea 26 and a trailing edge 28. Again, the terms “leading” and “trailing”are used with reference to the orientation that the support memberadopts once it has been inserted into the ground. The leading edge 24sweeps backward and upwardly at an acute angle, which assists in thewing penetrating the ground as the support member 10 is being driveninto the ground.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, the wing 20 is connected to the beam12 by positioning the wing 20 such that a face of the wing 20 comes intocontact with an underside of flange 18 of the beam 12. Appropriate weldscan then be used to connect the wing 20 to the beam 12. For example,lines of weld metal can be positioned adjacent to regions where edges ofthe wing 20 are adjacent to the underside of flange 18 of beam 12 andwhere an inner edge of the wing 20 is adjacent to the central flange 14.The wing 22 is similarly joined to the other side of flange 18 that lieson the other side of the central web 14.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, by joining the wing 20 to the undersideof flange 18, the effective thickness of flange 18 is increased, therebyincreasing thickness of the flange and resulting in a significantincrease in bending moment strength. A similar outcome would be achievedif the wing 20 was joined to the other side of the flange 18.

The support member 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 also comprises a second setof wings that is positioned towards the lower end of the beam 12. Thesecond set of wings includes wing 30 and wing 32. The wings 30 and 32are joined to the underside of flange 18 in a manner that is similar towing 20 being joined to the underside of flange 18. As can be seen, thewings 30, 32 are smaller than the wings 20, 22. The wings 30, 32 alsohave swept back or angled leading edges in order to facilitatepenetration into the ground.

The flanges, 16, 18 at the lower end of the beam 12 are Delta cut inorder to assist in penetration of the support member 10 into the ground.This results in the central web forming an apex 34 with the leadingedges 36, 38 of the flanges being swept back at an acute angle.Effectively, as best shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the supportmember 10 is generally V-shaped.

The first set of wings 20, 22 are located such that when the supportmember 10 is properly driven into the ground to the desired depth, thefirst set of wings are located wholly below ground level and with thetop of the wings 20, 22 being located close to the soil surface. This isshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, where the soil level is shown at 40. If alateral load is applied to the top of the member, the first set of wingsand the beam work together to raise to raise the effective pivot point,increasing turnover resistance with high levels of stored elasticenergy, for maintaining the support member 10 in the desired verticalposition even after a high wind or high frequency event. In this regard,the wings 20, 22 mobilise or engage with a large bulb of soil and can beeffective in resisting lateral loads applied to the top of the supportmember 10.

The second set of wings 30, 32 may not be required in all situations.However, where the second set of wings are present, the second set ofwings 30, 32 also mobilise a bulb of soil near the lower end of thesupport member 10. This also assists in maintaining the support member10 in position when lateral loads applied to the top of the supportmember 10.

In some embodiments, the width of the beam 12 is sufficient to resisttwisting forces applied to the support member 10. In this regard, thewidth of the beam 12 is effectively the height of the central web 14 ofthe beam 12. However, in some embodiments, it may be desirable toinclude a further set of wings that are joined to the flanges 16, 18 andextend transversely to the flanges 16, 18. With reference to FIGS. 5 and6, these additional wings can be seen at 42 and 44. Similarly, the wings42, 44 can be clearly seen in FIG. 8. These wings may be joined to therespective flanges 16, 18 by running weld metal along the edges of thewings 42, 44 that are in abutment with the flanges 16, 18.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the support member 10 being positioned in the ground.The ground level is shown at 40. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the region of soilthat comes under the influence of the wings can be seen in the darkershaded background.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a conventional steel driven beam being placed on theground. In FIG. 9, the beam 50 is 5.5 m long and has been driven 4 minto the ground. In FIG. 10 the beam 52 is 6.5 m long and has beendriven 5 m into the ground. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8with FIGS. 9 and 10, the region of soil that “reacts” with the supportmember 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is of similar size to the region ofsoil that “reacts” with the conventional beams 50, 52 as shown in FIGS.9 and 10. However, the support member 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is only4.5 m long and has been driven 3 m into the ground, in comparison to the5.5 m beam being driven 4 m into the ground in FIG. 9 and the 6.5 m beamdriven 5 m into the ground in FIG. 10. Therefore, a significantlyshorter beam can be used to attain similar resistance to lateral loadingby using the support member in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 also shows a similar comparison between a 4.5 m long supportmember that has been driven 1.5 m into the ground, with the top of thefirst set of wings being located 25 cm below soil level, with a 6 meterlong conventional beam that has been driven 4.5 m into the ground. Ascan be seen, the first set of wings of support member 10 moves the pivotpoint to close to the top of the first set of wings, due to the largemobilised soil bulb that interacts with the wings 20, 22. Accordinglyapplying a lateral load that forces the top of the support member 10 tothe left causes the first set of wings to mobilise the soil bulb 60,which resists the lateral load. It also moves the pivot point close tothe region as shown at 62. As a result, the lower end of the supportmember 10 wants to move to the right but the lower set of wingsmobilises soil bulb 64 to resist movement about the pivot point. Incontrast, applying a lateral load to the conventional beam 52 shown inFIG. 11 results in insufficient lateral resistance from the weak orfriable soil. As a result, the pivot point 66 is quite low down thebeam. Due to the insufficient lateral resistance of the week or friablesoil at the lower end of the beam 52, the lower end of the beam 52 canalso be moved to the right. As a result, the top of the beam 52 can bendor move in response to the applied lateral load.

As a further advantage, due to the stiffening effect of the wings 20, 22and 30, 32 on the flange 18 of the beam 12, the beam 12 can be made froma lighter gauge steel.

The size and strength of the beam and the size and positioning of thewings can be varied in accordance with design requirements and thegeotechnical requirements of the particular site where the supportmembers are to be driven into the ground. In some embodiments, theadditional wings that extend transversely to the flanges may beincluded. However, in other embodiments, the beam web face area may besufficient to support the specified loads, in which case the transversewings can be omitted.

The support member 100 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 also includes aplurality of angled plates 80, 82, 84, 86 attached to the flanges 16, 18of the beam 12. As can best be seen with reference to plate 80 in FIG.12, this forms a receptacle defined between the plate 80, the web 14 andthe flanges, 16, 18 of the beam 12. The receptacle has a relativelylarge upper opening. The plate 80 has a lower edge that is spaced awayfrom the web 14 so that a bottom opening in the form of a slot betweenthe lower edge of the plate 80 and the web 14 is formed. In someembodiments, the lower edge of the plate 80 may come into contact withthe web 14 (and be welded thereto), and the receptacle thus formed mayhave a lower opening formed by having a hole opening in the plate 80 ata lower region of the plate 80.

The plates 80, 82, 84 and 86 may be described as cupping plates thatform a cup having an upper opening and a lower opening for soil captureand drainage. The cups fill with soil or earth when the support member100 is inserted into the ground. If any forces applied to the supportmember attempt to force the support member upwardly, the soil retainedwithin the receptacles will resist that upward movement. In some ways,the plates act similarly to angled barbs on a spear, which resistextraction of the spear from flesh.

Although not shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, similar plates are located on theother side of the web 14. These are essentially in their imageorientation to the plates 80, 82, 84 and 86 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.The plates also act to reinforce the lower part of the beam.

The plates may have bevelled leading bottom edges, for superior groundpenetration during installation and correction of soil to optimise theend bearing pressure bulb sizes and shapes, around the support members,for improved compression and tension loading.

The plates may have bevelled leading bottom edges, for superior groundpenetration during installation and direction of soil to optimise theend bearing pressure bulb sizes and shapes, around the support members,for improved compression and tension loading.

Sites that contain very weak soil/founding materials generally comprisethe following 3 soil types:

Silty clay (firm/stiff and some sand),Sandy silty clay mix (medium density to loose sand with some siltyclay), allPure sand dune areas (loose to very loose sand).

Each soil type provides a different source strength and soilaction/reaction, which directly affects how the support members shouldbe tuned for optimising performance and cost. In some instances,particularly in instances where the site contains loose to very loosesand, installation of the piles may involve installing the piles intothe ground. The piles could then be watered with a very small amount ofcement added to the water to create a very light “grey water” slurry.The low viscosity of the very light grey water slurry will ensure thatthe water penetrates down around the support members. The permeablenature of the very loose sand displaced during installation of thesupport members will settle with the water and then “set” down andaround the support member. This is similar to a bucket of water beingpoured onto loose beach sand, but due to the concentration, depth andoverburden pressure, it is far more effective. The sand will also filterthe water, capturing the cement and bonding the sand granules togetheras it dries out. The end result will be a large sand/cement bulb bondeddown and around the support member, for increased skin friction andtherefore improved overall compression and tension load capability ofthe piles.

In simple terms, this added, simple, low-cost soilstabilisation/mediation process enables the weakest sand sites to beconverted into superior soil strength sites. This particularly resultsin improved vertical skin friction loads for improved compression andtension load performance.

The support member may have a mounting arrangement or a connection plateattached to its upper end to enable a structure to be connected to thesupport member. The skilled person would readily understand how this canbe achieved.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each ofthe stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or morefurther integers.

Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘anembodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, theappearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more combinations.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific to structural or methodical features. Itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to specificfeatures shown or described since the means herein described comprisespreferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is,therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within theproper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpretedby those skilled in the art.

1. A support member comprising a beam adapted to be driven into theground, and one or more wings extending generally transversely outwardlyfrom the beam.
 2. A support member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oneor more wings comprise plates extending transversely to the beam.
 3. Asupport member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wings have an outeredge that extends in a direction that is generally parallel to alongitudinal axis of the beam.
 4. A support member as claimed in claim 1wherein each wing extends in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinalaxis of the beam.
 5. A support member as claimed in claim 1 wherein theone or more wings have lower edges that extend at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the beam, thereby assisting penetration of theleading edge of the one or more wings into the ground.
 6. A supportmember as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member has a pluralityof wings.
 7. A support member as claimed in claim 6 wherein at leastsome of the wings are located such that when the beam is driven into theground to a desired depth, the one or more wings are wholly locatedbelow ground level.
 8. A support member as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe one or more wings comprise a first set of wings located at a firstregion and a second set of wings located at the second region, thesecond region being spaced along the beam from the first region.
 9. Asupport member as claimed in claim 8 wherein the wings in the first setof wings are of a different size to at least one of the wings in thesecond set of wings.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. A support memberas claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more wings iswelded to the beam in a manner such that a face of the wing is inabutment with a face of the beam.
 13. A support member as claimed inclaim 12 wherein the beam comprises an I-beam or a H-beam and at leastone of the wings is welded to a flange of the I-beam or H-beam.
 14. Asupport member as claimed in claim 13 comprising a first wing welded toa flange on one side of a central web of the beam and a second wingwelded to a flange on another side of the central web of the beam.
 15. Asupport member as claimed in claim 12 wherein the beam comprises anI-beam or a H-beam and at least one wing is welded to an inside face ofa flange of the H-beam or I-beam, wherein a face of the wing is inabutment with an inside face of the flange of the beam.
 16. A supportmember as claimed in claim 12 wherein the beam comprises an I-beam or aH-beam and the one or more wings comprises a pair of stabilising wings,with a first wing of the pair being welded to an inside face of a flangeof the beam and a second wing of the pair being welded to an inside faceof the flange on an opposite side of the central web of the beam.
 17. Asupport member as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one wingcomprises a first pair of stabilising wings and a second pair ofstabilising wings located towards a lower end of the beam, the secondpair of stabilising wings being spaced from a first pair of stabilisingwings.
 18. A support member as claimed in claim 17 wherein the beamcomprises an I-beam or a H-beam and the second pair of stabilising wingscomprises a first wing of the pair being welded to an inside face of aflange of the beam and a second wing of the pair being welded to aninside face of the flange on an opposite side of the central web of thebeam.
 19. A support member as claimed in claim 18 wherein the supportmember comprises a further stabilising wing attached to and extendingtransversely from a flange or a face of the beam.
 20. (canceled) 21.(canceled)
 22. A support member as claimed in claim 1 wherein thesupport member is provided with one or more receptacles to receive soilor earth when the support member is inserted into the ground.
 23. Asupport member as claimed in claim 22 wherein the one or morereceptacles include at least one upwardly and outwardly extending wall.24. A support member as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or morereceptacles have a lower opening in a lower part to allow soil to enterinto the receptacle through the opening during insertion of the supportmember into the ground.
 25. A support member as claimed in claim 22wherein the one or more receptacles have an upper opening and a loweropening, the opening being larger than the lower opening.
 26. A supportmember as claimed in claim 22 wherein a receptacle is formed bypositioning a plate between flanges of the beam, the plate being angledoutwardly and upwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the beam. 27.(canceled)
 28. A support member as claimed in claim 26 wherein an inneredge of the plate is spaced from the web of the beam to thereby form alower opening between the web and the inner edge of the plate.
 29. Asupport member as claimed in claim 26 wherein the one or more plates donot extend beyond outer edges of the flanges.
 30. A support membercomprising a beam adapted to be driven into the ground, and one or morereceptacles to receive soil or earth when the support member is insertedinto the ground.
 31. A support member as claimed in claim 30 wherein thebeam comprises a web having flanges extending from the web and the oneor more receptacles are located between the flanges.
 32. A supportmember as claimed in claim 31 wherein a receptacle is formed by joiningan upwardly and outwardly angled plate to the one or more flanges.
 33. Asupport member as claimed in claim 30 wherein the one or morereceptacles have a lower opening in a lower part to allow soil to enterinto the receptacle through the opening during insertion of the supportmember into the ground.
 34. A support member as claimed in claim 30wherein the one or more receptacles have an upper opening and a loweropening, the opening being larger than the lower opening.
 35. (canceled)36. (canceled)
 37. A support member as claimed in claim 32 wherein aninner edge of the plate is spaced from the web of the beam to therebyform a lower opening between the web and the inner edge of the plate.38. (canceled)